A Fine Dinner at Trimalchio’s The Roman lifestyle is one where a Roman could either live luxuriously or enslaved. Although, there were many exceptions of slaves who were able to buy their freedom and live the life as a freedman, it did not mean that they could fully be a part of Roman society. Certain restrictions were placed on freedmen such that they could not hold pubic office or state priesthoods, nor could they achieve legitimate senatorial rank. This meant that it did not matter how much money a freed businessman made, he could not achieve any power because he was not allowed to hold government office. Trimalchio is a prime example of a slave turned freedman who became a wealthy businessman, but not even wealth could change the old habits
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At the entrance of Trimalchio’s house, where guests are pouring into, is a mural of Trimalchio at a slave market with the goddess Minerva escorting him into Rome and the goddess Mercury raising him by his chin and placing him on a throne (pg. 22). The mural signifies that Trimalchio sees himself in the ranks of the gods and emperors even though he is not able to hold real power. Moreover, Trimalchio has the “bronze beak of a ship” on display with the inscription, “To Gaius Pompeius Trimalchio, member of the sextet of the College of Augustus” (pg. 22) when a bronze beak of ship is supposed to be on display at the forum which signifies that a naval battle was won. Trimalchio has never been in a naval battle and is known to have an awful singing voice, so the bronze beaks that Trimalchio has are a hoax because he had them made to make it seem like he is a great man who has gone through battles and won wars when all he ever was, and ever will be is a slave. Moreover, the hoaxes and displays that Trimalchio has, demonstrates how desperately he wants to be a part of the aristocracy. He would go to great lengths and lie to make himself seem more than what he really is. In addition, Trimalchio enjoys flaunting his wealth to the point that it becomes absurd to the …show more content…
This is because he sympathizes with the slaves. The dinner guests see this when the cook “forgets” to gut the pig, a mistake that should not be made by any cook. All of the dinner guests beg at Trimalchio’s feet to spare the cook, and Trimalchio revels in the authority and power that is vested in his decision to either give the cook punishment or let him go untouched. In the end, Trimalchio decides to spare the cook and gives him a drink and silver crown. Trimalchio demonstrates to the guests and himself that he has power over his slaves because that is the only power he will ever hold, since he is nothing but a wealthy freedman. Moreover, the slaves that Trimalchio has make numerous mistakes because Trimalchio is not a real master towards them. For example, when Croesus, a young boy slave, had his puppy running around the dining room where it broke glassware and splashed hot oil on the guests, Trimalchio did not punish him. Instead he told the boy to jump on his back and play jockey. A real master would have never let a slave boy chase his puppy all around the dining room and go without punishment, but Trimalchio does, thus displaying that Trimalchio is not free from the chains of slavery since he cannot act as a true master over his slaves. This does bring about the question of why would a freedman who has already experienced slavery subject
At the entrance of Trimalchio’s house, where guests are pouring into, is a mural of Trimalchio at a slave market with the goddess Minerva escorting him into Rome and the goddess Mercury raising him by his chin and placing him on a throne (pg. 22). The mural signifies that Trimalchio sees himself in the ranks of the gods and emperors even though he is not able to hold real power. Moreover, Trimalchio has the “bronze beak of a ship” on display with the inscription, “To Gaius Pompeius Trimalchio, member of the sextet of the College of Augustus” (pg. 22) when a bronze beak of ship is supposed to be on display at the forum which signifies that a naval battle was won. Trimalchio has never been in a naval battle and is known to have an awful singing voice, so the bronze beaks that Trimalchio has are a hoax because he had them made to make it seem like he is a great man who has gone through battles and won wars when all he ever was, and ever will be is a slave. Moreover, the hoaxes and displays that Trimalchio has, demonstrates how desperately he wants to be a part of the aristocracy. He would go to great lengths and lie to make himself seem more than what he really is. In addition, Trimalchio enjoys flaunting his wealth to the point that it becomes absurd to the …show more content…
This is because he sympathizes with the slaves. The dinner guests see this when the cook “forgets” to gut the pig, a mistake that should not be made by any cook. All of the dinner guests beg at Trimalchio’s feet to spare the cook, and Trimalchio revels in the authority and power that is vested in his decision to either give the cook punishment or let him go untouched. In the end, Trimalchio decides to spare the cook and gives him a drink and silver crown. Trimalchio demonstrates to the guests and himself that he has power over his slaves because that is the only power he will ever hold, since he is nothing but a wealthy freedman. Moreover, the slaves that Trimalchio has make numerous mistakes because Trimalchio is not a real master towards them. For example, when Croesus, a young boy slave, had his puppy running around the dining room where it broke glassware and splashed hot oil on the guests, Trimalchio did not punish him. Instead he told the boy to jump on his back and play jockey. A real master would have never let a slave boy chase his puppy all around the dining room and go without punishment, but Trimalchio does, thus displaying that Trimalchio is not free from the chains of slavery since he cannot act as a true master over his slaves. This does bring about the question of why would a freedman who has already experienced slavery subject